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Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1926, Page 2

A very interesting event to happen along in the new year now opened, is the celebration of the Kurnara Jubilee. This is fixed for the first week in March and no doubt the occasion will result in ;t foregathering of old identities and natives of the Ktimara goldfield. It is an important milestone in local history, and the fact that the townspeople are showing interest and enthusiasm in the event, indicates that tlie old-time spirit of the place is still merry and bright. The celebrations provide for a happy reunion. There will he sports, a banquet, a ball, a public picnic, and a. gathering for the children. All these features provide ample scope for fraternising with old friends and renewing old acquaintances. Tt can be well understood that there will he many pleasant reunions, and the occasion should he in every way a memorable one. The Kurnara goldfield was an important event in the history of New Zealand. It was a very rich field, and though seemingly the gold has petered out along the favourlie leads, there are those who believe that there are richer, deeper lends. There is also the golden deposit in the Teromaknu river hod, into which lor years the tailings from both sides of the river poured. Tt is not unlikely that the river lied will he worked again due season. There has been prospecting in the past, good enough to encourage serious consideration for a dredging proposition. That idea, has taken some shape and further prospecting will eventuate. If encouraging enough and with electric power available from the north, the possibility of one or more large electric dredges operating nlong'-vthe alluvial reaches of the Teremakau river bed, is by no means remote. As to the deep levels of Kurnara, the coming Jubilee will he a splendid opportunity lost, if such a project as the thorough prospecting of that rich alluvial field is not pushed to the utmost. A liberal (lovernmenl subsidy should lie filtered as an encouragement to a milting enterprise in the direction indicated, and it will then he for private parties to set about the undertaking on definite lines. A revival of goldmiiiing on the (’uasl is now well overdue, and it would lie fitting indeed if the Jubilee of such a rich field as Kurnara were made the occasion for practical attention being turned once again to the task of seeking for the treasure which lies below. It is a proposition which promises a rich reward, and enterprise encouraged bv Government aid might well take the task in hand to most fittingly ol all to (deb rate the goldfield Jubilee.

It is eUsloniai'V to rail ;i” Ji i list the climate of the Coast. Hut though it has .shortcomings— the chief being the lack of equable spring conditions for sowing crops betimes— it has to he borne in mind there are some adverse natural conditions which affect our run of good weather. The climate ol Westhind is influenced by its position with regard to the prevailing westerly winds: its proximity to the sea whence the wind blows; mil the mountainous character of the country so adjacent to the seaboard, the snow peaks of the mountain range affecting the waterladen clouds. The rainfall is high, hut it is a factor to discount the total to some extent that much of the rainfalls through the night, due to at- ; mn-pherio depressions. This is evidonej cd by the fact that easterly winds do I not firing the rain which is brought in ito the westerly breezes, ltut the records abo go to show that the Coast is not always wet. and Westland if noted for a clear, beautiful atmosphere during fair weather periods. The rainfall for the past year was 12.3.87 i inches, as against- 133.58 the previous year. This is a drop of 9.71 inches, but is still much above the average which for -It years, has been 11(5.ol inches. In regard to bright sunshine the record for the past year was 201-1 hours 10 minutes, or ft hours 19 minutes less than the previous year when 202.1 hours 59 minutes were recorded. Both these years are well above the average for the past ten years sunshine, the mean for that period being 1897 hours 18 minutes. But for the extraordinary weather over the past two or three months Westland would have put up quite a new record in weather- thanks to the magnificent spell of weather enjoyed during (he winter time. As regards bright sunshine over the yearly period, with the exception of Napier and Nelson, Westland stands well, and holds a very creditable position. Taken altogether then, we are not entitled, with a full knowledge of tlie facts, to condemn our weather. The rainfall is essential for the forest growth and maintenance, and there is still very abundant wealth to be drawn from that natural resource. The rainfall plays its part, too, in regard to the public health and generally serves a useful purpose. The bright sunshine is compensating advantage, too, and assists in no small way to direct our progress. The weather is perhaps, not nil That we could desire, hut it is net a bad sample, and meets natural requirements admirably.